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 INTRODUCTION
The Declaration of Independence was the backbone that allowed America to rise from its knees and stand tall and strong economically, politically and socially, eventually becoming the greatest and most powerful nation in the history of Humanity. This strength also included spiritual liberation from an 'old world' religious system. However, today, along with the rest of the 're-defining' of American culture and morality, the contemporary idea of Liberty and Independence bears little resemblance to the original version laid down at the foundation of this nation.
The cry of "give me liberty, or give me death", and the cost that the original signers of The Declaration of Independence knew they would have to pay, (often with their own blood) took place in the context of a young nation endeavoring to establish a rightful separation from the tyranny of British kings and bishops. Unfortunately, time has eroded these noble sentiments which, for many, have now degenerated into a self-centered 'pseudo-right' to independently "…do my own thing", the 'credo' being; "Nobody has the right to tell me what to do because I'm free!". A commendable 'rugged individualism' that pushed men westward from America's original settlements and filled this nation from coast to coast and from North to South, today has descended into producing a dangerous type of independence in the Body Of Christ. Ironically a nations greatest strength in the natural realm can end up being its greatest weakness in the spiritual realm!
WENT OR SENT?
Compared with many other nations that I have visited, America has a comparatively higher percentage of independent churches and ministries. A great number of these have been very affective in answering their call, but some were built on the shaky foundation of leaders who 'went' - but were not 'sent'! They ignored the 'life and death' principle of blessing that Jacob demonstrated by declaring to the angel; "I will not let go until you bless me!" (Genesis 32:26). There is power in being 'sent out' and blessed to go, but if you just 'went' to do your "own thing", then the risk of failure increases exponentially because of lack of support and covering.
Not long after we arrived here in America from Australia, I was giving testimony in a church, where I was preaching, of how I had spent 5 years submitting the choice to come here to every leader around the world with whom I had a good relationship. I particularly had a long dialogue with the minister I worked with in Sydney and who was my mentor for nearly 20 years. I had first gone to him five years before coming here and told him that I was feeling that God was leading us to relocate my ministry to The United States, stressing to him that I would not go without his blessing. At that time, he felt that he could not release me to go. I knew that to proceed without that all important 'blessing' would be a recipe for disaster, so I just put the whole vision on the shelf, tried to forget about it and get on with my life and ministry.
Over the next few years, I continued to develop our ministry in Australia and around the world, but the prospect of relocation to America would just not go away. It was always there, just simmering under the surface and so after several more years I had to go back to my mentor and ask him to reconsider 'sending' me and blessing me to go. This time he did recognize that it was God's will and timing, even though we were both extremely reluctant to be parted from each other after being so close for such a long time.
After I had given this testimony, a young 'pastor' who happened to be visiting that service, came up to me and said; "If you knew it was really God, why did you have to talk to so many leaders about coming here?". Not long before he had left his home church, without being 'sent', to start up an independent fellowship. In answer to his question, I went to great lengths to explain this principle of blessing to him and also adding the fact that there is "wisdom in the counsel of many", but it all seemed to just run off him like water off a duck's back. Needless to say, after nearly two years there are no signs of growth in his fellowship and it remains very small.
POST-DENOMINATIONALISM?
Lack of relational covering and support leads to a lack of resources, and this has caused many independent ministries to rely on 'trial and error' as the mainstay of their development. Isolation among leaders, even within denominations, and slow growth has frequently been the legacy of this style of leadership. But there has been a tremendous increase of relational 'networking' taking place in America in recent years. It seems that God has been giving us a new 'wineskin' for a new Millennium. Not that denominationalism is obsolete by any means, as witnessed by a recent report that a major Pentecostal Denomination had nearly doubled in size worldwide over the last ten years; from 18 to 35 million. However, most of this growth was in South America, Asia and Africa, mostly third-world nations. Unfortunately, the same denomination reported virtually no growth in most western countries.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
As I travel and minister around this nation, I have been thrilled to make contact and build relationships with many new networks of pastors, leaders and churches. The initial rallying point for these groups is mostly gathering together for prayer. This is an activity which is perceived by all as non-threatening and mostly devoid of personal agendas. And so there has been an initial elation that has accompanied the foundation of many of these groups, the catch-cry often being; "Look! We're together in Unity!!", no small 'declaration' (pun intended) in a culture of Independence. Most of these emerging networks are local and although they have done a lot to encourage a sense of belonging and fellowship amongst independent ministries, the question often left begging is; "where do we go from here?"
Sometimes clear and decisive leadership has difficulty emerging because of political considerations inside the group, thus opening up the danger of what began as something good descending into power struggles, and thus leading to fragmentation. There must also be more than just unifying for a specific event, otherwise the unity usually ceases when the event is over. If Unity-based networks are to survive, then they must have purpose-driven unity, where people of like spirit realize that there is more to be gained by being together than what is retained by maintaining their independence.
ACT LOCALLY - THINK GLOBALLY?
One of the greatest and most urgent tasks ahead of us is to go to the next level by finding a way of networking the networks; to turn independence into interdependence; to enhance a sense of acting locally, but thinking 'globally', never losing sight of the big picture.
If the world has been confused about the message of the Church, then it is because we have presented them with a cacophony of voices and messages that would rival the confusion of Babel. If we are to ever impact our communities them we must speak with one voice. We need to build bridges between emerging networks, cementing them together in a true apostolic style that is recognized and accepted primarily through function and not merely by attaching a label. I believe this is the next step along the road to re-awakening in America.
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